Blues book Premiership place

There will doubtless be more memorable and dramatic penalty shoot-outs in the World Cup summer that lies ahead, but there will not be one that is more important.

As the English Football League as we know it threatens to disappear into the financial abyss caused by the collapse of ITV Digital, the last available promotion ticket to the Premiership has never been more precious.

That it lies today in the hands of Birmingham City is due largely to the stout hearts and steely nerves of the four players in blue who struck their penalty kicks into the back of the Norwich net yesterday as 71,000 people held their breath and covered their eyes.

It may seem somewhat uncouth to be discussing money in the wake of a classic afternoon of sudden death sport, but the disparity of wealth between the residents of football's top division and those running to stand still beneath makes it inevitable.

Birmingham's chief executive Karren Brady said earlier this week that promotion would mean £25million to her club, and now instead of spending the summer cutting costs and tightening belts, Birmingham will instead open their arms and wait for their share of the money that continues to circulate in such gruesome quantities around the Premiership.

Manager Steve Bruce was spot on when he said: 'It was a fantastic game and I have to say to Norwich that it is a cruel way to lose. Thankfully, we had that little bit of luck that you need.'

But how close they came to another dose of play-off misery.

In each of the last three seasons, Birmingham have failed at the final hurdle, losing semi- finals to Preston, Barnsley and Watford.

For a while in the rarefied atmosphere of Cardiff ' s Millennium Stadium yesterday, it looked like it would happen again.

After Iwan Roberts sprang from the Norwich bench to head Nigel Worthington's team into the lead in the first minute of extra-time, it seemed as though the team that only sneaked into the play-off lottery on the last day of the League programme would realise a remarkable dream.

As the fevered Birmingham support fell into a wretched silence for the first time, it appeared that their team were spent. But one prodigious leap from the resolute John revived a dying cause 11 minutes later as he headed Jeff Kenna's deep centre back across goal for Geoff Horsfield to nudge home the equaliser.

With the stakes so high, it was gripping drama. After 90 minutes of high energy and endeavour but few clear chances, the contest had come alive in the extra period.

At the death, Birmingham's Michael Johnson headed against the foot of a post and one wonderedif it really was to be a Blue Monday today for Bruce's team. As it transpired, however, the penalties were to make heroes of Birmingham and crucify their opponents without mercy.

Credit to those in yellow who strode forward to take aim. Lesser men would have baulked. But after Roberts had scored the opening spot-kick, team-mates Phil Mulryne and Daryl Sutch failed with quite dreadful kicks, allowing youngster Carter to secure his name in Birmingham folklore with the deciding spot-kick.

Bruce said: 'What can you say about Darren Carter? I threw him in and he was as cool as a cucumber. In fairness, we have been practising penalties in the play- offs, practising them in the week building up to the match.

'He's 18 and he takes the penalty that gets the club into the Premiership. It's fairy-tale stuff. I spoke to him afterwards and he said it was like taking one in the park.'

There is a case to suggest that a match of such magnitude should not be settled this way. Would a replay be so difficult to arrange?

Certainly, the fact that the shootout took place at the Birmingham end of the ground played its part. Decided on the flip of a coin, it was a heck of a call to get right.

Even Norwich, however, may find it hard to begrudge Birmingham their success. Bruce's team finishedthe season a point clear of their opponents and have been knocking on the Premiership door so long, their knuckles must bleed.

Of course, there will be hard work ahead and whatever money Bruce receives from his board must be spent wisely. The responsibility cannot be over-stated.

Yesterday there were heroes in the shape of John, Horsfield, defender Johnson and goalkeeper Nico Vaesen, and it would appear a nucleus is there. As ever, next season will be the most important.